Candle holder band

ABSTRACT

The claimed invention relates to a means for grasping and carrying a hot candle holder, such as a jar candle container, containing an illuminated candle and which comprises a band made of a thermal insulating rubber that is adapted to fit snugly around the candle holder and provide enhanced gripping capability for the user. In its preferred embodiment, the band is circular in shape, made of a flexible elastic silicone rubber material and is at least one inch wide and one eighth inch thick. When secured around the container, in addition to serving as functional means to carry a hot candle, the band is designed to provide aesthetic and decorative feature to the jar candle. The band may be clear, thereby revealing the color of the candle or container beneath it, or made in a variety of chosen colors, which are enhanced and appear to glow when the candle is illuminated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an insulating candle holder band which provides both a safe and decorative means to grasp and transport jar candle containers that become hot when the candle is illuminated. In its preferable embodiment, the band is made of a flexible, translucent thermal insulating material that forms an endless ring and is designed to fit snugly around the candle container. When the candle is illuminated, it can make the candle jar or container hot to the touch. With the candle holder band snugly in place around the jar candle container, a person can then grasp the container around the band and move the illuminated candle without getting burned. When the band is properly positioned on the candle container, the translucent material can emit a glow of color from the candle, container or the band itself when the candle is illuminated.

BACKGROUND

Candle containers, such as jar candles made of glass, will often become very hot when the candle is illuminated and difficult to hold without some insulation around them. In some cases, this problem can be addressed when the jar container is made of a relatively low heat conducting material such as plastic. For colorful or otherwise aesthetically interesting candles, however, a clear glass jar often provides the most suitable container. In order to be able to grasp and carry a hot jar candle, the jar or container needs to be insulated or an insulated material can be affixed to the jar. Decorative structures in which the candle jar is housed or fabric covers for candle container can also be used for example as a means to carry a hot candle. The objective of the present invention was to create a product which could be used on jar candles which would be removable and provide an insulated and yet decorative means for holding and carrying a hot candle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Scott Carpenter and Kara Kotary (U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,448) describe a decorated candle holder covered by a decorative web of a heat-shrinkable polymer web which conforms to the shape of the holder. The web covering may provide some insulation but is not designed to provide sufficient thermal insulation to hold the candle when the container is hot. The web also covers the entire holder thereby altering the appearance of the container.

David M. Rivard (Ser. No. 20060024629) has developed a liquid fuel candle comprising a wax body having an insulator attached to one and a wick threaded through the hollowed core of the candle. Again, the insulation component of the holder is not designed as both a decorative and functional means of holding the candle.

There have been inventions pertaining to the use of materials, which may also have insulation qualities but which are specifically designed for safely housing candles or candle containers. For example, John A. Jeneral (U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,513) describes an invention to provide a safer plastic cup to hold tea-light candles using a container made of polycarbonate plastic. Others have described candle holders around which bands or rings are secured. Sanjeev Kumar (Ser. No. 20040195470) has developed an adapter for a votive candle holder which comprises a lower band or ring used to suspend a lampshade over the votive candle.

None of the above cited art is designed for or accomplishes the purposes of the present invention, namely providing an insulating yet decorative removable translucent band which permits safe holding and carrying a hot jar candle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an insulating candle holder band for secure placement around a jar candle or circular candle container, providing a means for grasping and transporting a hot jar candle as well as a decorative feature of the container. When positioned around the jar candle container, the band provides a means for the user to safely hold and carry the container which becomes hot from an illuminated candle inside. The band comprises a flexible ring has a top edge and bottom edge and an inner surface and outer surface and is made of thermally insulating material, preferably a translucent silicone rubber. In its preferred embodiment, the band is removable and can be either clear or a desired color. The band is designed to fit tightly against the outer surface of and conform to the exterior shape of a cylindrical candle jar having vertical sides. An alternative embodiment is designed to fit on a flared or tapered container wherein the top edge of the band has a greater circumference than the bottom edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the band.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the band in place around a cylindrical jar candle container which contains a candle.

FIG. 3. is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the band in place on a flared or tapered candle container.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the band securely placed around the jar candle container which contains a candle.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the preferred circular embodiment of the band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises an insulating candle holder band 1, or band 1, used for grasping and carrying a hot candle container having an illuminated candle 2 inside. In its preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, the band 1 comprises a continuous circular ring made of a flexible thermally insulating material such as silicone rubber. The band further comprises a top edge 3, bottom edge 4, inner surface 5 and outer surface 6. The preferred embodiment of the band 1 is translucent and approximately one inch wide and one eighth inch thick.

A circular embodiment of the band 1 with top 3 and bottom 4 edges of equal circumferences is adapted for use on a jar candle or similar cylindrical container. FIG. 2 shows the band 1 snugly placed around the candle jar 7. Using a silicone or similar rubber material to make the band 1, the outer surface 6 band provides enhanced gripping capability for the user while the inner surface 5 provides better adhesion of the band to the glass jar 7. The silicone or rubber material also provides thermal insulation allowing the user to safely grasp and carry the illuminated candle without burn or discomfort when the jar 7 or container 7 is hot.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the band 1 having a flared or tapered configuration in which the top edge 3 has a greater circumference than the bottom edge 4, adapting the band 1 for use on a similar V-shaped or flared candle holder 8.

The band can be made of a clear material so that the color of the candle or container 7, 8 is visible through the band 1. Alternatively, the band 1 can be made of different colors thereby emitting a colorful glow when the candle 2 is illuminated. 

1. An insulating candle holder band adapted to be removably inserted around and secured to a candle holder, thereby providing a means to grasp and carry said candle holder, said band being made of a flexible and elastic material having an inner surface and outer surface wherein said inner surface fits snugly against and conforming to the external shape of said candle holder.
 2. An insulating candle holder band as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band forms an endless circle and is made of a translucent thermal insulating silicone plastic.
 3. An insulating candle holder band as claimed in claim 2 wherein the band has a top edge and a bottom edge, said edges being circumferentially equal in length.
 4. An insulating candle holder band as claimed in claim 3 wherein the thickness between the inner and outer surfaces is at least one eighth inch and the width of the band between the top and bottom edges is at least one inch.
 5. An insulating candle holder band adapted for secure placement around a cylindrical jar candle container as a means to grasp and carry said jar candle container when said container is hot, the band being endless and circular in shape and made of a flexible and translucent rubber material, said band having a top edge and bottom edge and an inner surface and outer surface whereby the inner surface of the band is adapted to fit snugly against and conform to the external shape of the candle container, said band having a thickness between the inner and outer surfaces of at least one eighth inch and a width between the top and bottom edges of at least one inch.
 6. An insulating candle holder band adapted for secure placement around a tapered or V-shaped jar candle container as a means to grasp and carry said jar candle container when said container is hot, the band being made of a flexible and translucent rubber material and having endless circular top and bottom edges, said top edge having a greater circumference than the bottom edge, and an inner surface and outer surface whereby the inner surface of the band is designed to fit snugly against and conform to the external shape of the candle container, said band having a thickness between the inner and outer surfaces of at least one eighth inch and a width between the top and bottom edges of at least one inch. 